9:1 1 The gloom will be dispelled for those who were anxious.2
In earlier times he3 humiliated
the land of Zebulun,
and the land of Naphtali;4
but now he brings honor5
to the way of the sea,
the region beyond the Jordan,
and Galilee of the nations.6
9:2 The people walking in darkness
see a bright light;7
light shines
on those who live in a land of deep darkness.8
9:3 You9 have enlarged the nation;
you give them great joy.10
They rejoice in your presence
as harvesters rejoice;
as warriors celebrate11 when they divide up the loot.
9:4 For their oppressive yoke
and the club that strikes their shoulders,
the cudgel the oppressor uses on them,12
you have shattered, as in the day of Midian’s defeat.13
9:5 Indeed every boot that marches and shakes the earth14
and every garment dragged through blood
is used as fuel for the fire.
9:6 For a child has been15 born to us,
a son has been16 given to us.
He shoulders responsibility
and is called:17
Extraordinary Strategist,18
Mighty God,19
Everlasting Father,20
Prince of Peace.21
9:7 His dominion will be vast22
and he will bring immeasurable prosperity.23
He will rule on David’s throne
and over David’s kingdom,24
establishing it25 and strengthening it26
by promoting justice and fairness,27
from this time forward and forevermore.
The Lord’s intense devotion to his people28 will accomplish this.
God’s Judgment Intensifies
9:829 The sovereign master30 decreed judgment31 on Jacob,
and it fell on Israel.32
9:9 All the people were aware33 of it,
the people of Ephraim and those living in Samaria.34
Yet with pride and an arrogant attitude, they said,35
9:10 “The bricks have fallen,
but we will rebuild with chiseled stone;
the sycamore fig trees have been cut down,
but we will replace them with cedars.”36
9:11 Then the Lord provoked37 their adversaries to attack them,38
he stirred up39 their enemies—
9:12 Syria from the east,
and the Philistines from the west,
they gobbled up Israelite territory.40
Despite all this, his anger does not subside,
and his hand is ready to strike again.41
9:13 The people did not return to the one who struck them,
they did not seek reconciliation42 with the Lord who leads armies.
9:14 So the Lord cut off Israel’s head and tail,
both the shoots and stalk43 in one day.
9:15 The leaders and the highly respected44 are the head,
the prophets who teach lies are the tail.
9:16 The leaders of this nation were misleading people,
and the people being led were destroyed.45
9:17 So the sovereign master was not pleased46 with their young men,
he took no pity47 on their orphans and widows;
for the whole nation was godless48 and did wicked things,49
every mouth was speaking disgraceful words.50
Despite all this, his anger does not subside,
and his hand is ready to strike again.51
9:18 For52 evil burned like a fire,53
it consumed thorns and briers;
it burned up the thickets of the forest,
and they went up in smoke.54
9:19 Because of the anger of the Lord who leads armies, the land was scorched,55
and the people became fuel for the fire.56
People had no compassion on one another.57
9:20 They devoured58 on the right, but were still hungry,
they ate on the left, but were not satisfied.
People even ate59 the flesh of their own arm!60
9:21 Manasseh fought against61 Ephraim,
and Ephraim against Manasseh;
together they fought against62 Judah.
Despite all this, his anger does not subside,
and his hand is ready to strike again.63